Fuse



H. H. BAKER.

FUSE.

APPLICATION FILED NGV. I5, I9IB.

1,406,434.. y Patented Feb.14,1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD H. BAKER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED STATES FUSECORPORATION, OF BUFFALO, NEV YORK, A CORFORATION OF NEW YORK,

FUSE.

To all whom t may concer/n.'

Be it knownthat I, HOWARD H. BAKER. a citizen of the United States,residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York7havevinvented new and useful Improvements in Fuses, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a refillable fuse and has for its object theproduction of such a fuse which can be manufactured at coniparativelylow cost, whichcan be readily dismembered and assembled for the purposeof replacing a blown kout fuse-link, which permits of quickly couplingthe lfuse-link with the terminals so as to guard against any loosenessof parts which mightk produce an imperfect contact or arcing, which isso de signed as to `practically prevent shocking, a person who ishandling the fuse, and .which is improved in other respects so as torender the fuse as a whole more durable and not liable to get outof'order.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure .l is a longitudinal section showing one embodiment of myinvention.

Figure 2' is a side elevation of the same with` the cover removed landthe catches for holding the cover in section. Figures 3 and 4l larecross sections taken on the correspondingly-numbered lines in Fig. 2.Figure 5 is a group of perspective views of the several parts of thefuse in a' dismembered con-v dition. j Figure 6 is a fragmentarylongitudinal section of the fuse showing a modified form of the couplingclip for detachably connecting the fuse-link with vone of the terminals.Figure 7 is a perspective viewy of the form of couplingV clip shown inFig. 6.-

Similar vcharacters of Yreference indicate corresponding partsthroughoutthe several views.

yIn its generalorganization, this Vfuse coinprises a hollow enclosingbox or casing, two terminals' mounted on opposite ends of this box sothat the outer ends of the same project beyond opposite ends of the boxfor conneetionwith the terminals of the fuse block while their innerends are arranged within the boxyand means fordet-achably connecting,afuse link within the box to the inner endsof the terminal.

.Although these terminals maybe variously constructed, the same farepreferably made in the form of flat bars l which are constructed of`'any suitable conducting maspeifieation of Letters Patenti V'nal wall 7,a comparatively wide flange 9 Patented Feb. 14, 1922. Serial No.262,720.

terial, such as copper7 whicli'is of uniform thickness throughout itslength. The box or enclosing casing is constructed of elec trickinsulating material suoli as bakelite, and

`comprises a body 2 and a cover 3. The body 1s composed of an Outerlongitudinal wall i. an inwardly-projecting.flange 5 arranged at one ofthe longitudinal edges of this wall, and two transverse flanges 6. 6,projecting inwardly from opposite ends of said wall, these severalmembers of the body being preferably constructed integrally in anysuitable manner from insulating material. The cover is composed of anouter longitudiprojecting inwardly from one of the longitudinal edgesofth'is'wall, a comparatively narrow flange 8 projecting inwardly fromthe other longitudinal edgeY of this wall, and two transverse flanges10. l0, projecting inwardly from opposite ends of this wall, the severalmembers of this cover being also preferably formed integrally ofsuitable insulating material in any suitable manner. ln the assembledposition of thebody and cover of the box the inner edge of the narrowlongitudinal flange of the cover engages with the inner edge of thelongitudinal flange on the body.- the wide longitudinal flange of thecover engages with the unflanged longitudinal edge of the body and thecorresponding transverse flanges of the cover and body engage with eachother. thereby forming the hollow box or enclosing casing. It will benoted that by thus con` structing the sections of the box or casing inthis manner, the same are of non-symmetrical form in cross section andthe joints between opposite longitudinal sides thereof are out of linewith each other transversely of the box.l so lthat it is impossible toassemble the body and cover in any other way excepting the correct wayand thereby facilitating. this assemblage and enabling the cover to bequickly and definitely engaged at its opposite ends with the catches orretaining devices which are arranged on opposite ends of the body andare of different constructions as will be hereinafter fully described.

In order to center or align the cover and body relatively to each otherwhen assembling them, and cause their outer surfaces to be held flushwith each other, centering or aligning means are employed which in thepreferred construction shown in the draw- Y ings, consist in-'providingtlieinner edge of Ythe wide flange andthe adjacent parts the transverseflanges of the cover with an inclined or beveled lface ll ivh'icliengages with a correspondingly inclined face orseat 12 on the inner side-of the unflanged edge ofthe body-Wall and the adjacent parts of thetransverse flanges thereof, and the inner edge ofy the narrowlongitudinal flange of the cover and theadjacent parts of itstrans- Yverseflanges is provided with an inclined or beveled face 13 whichengages with accrrespondinglyinclined4 or lbeveled face le' on I Yendsof the body andcover flush Vor in alignment is accomplished by providingthe longitudinal flange of the body adjacent to the inner side of theVcentral part of its beveled 'face with a notch or recess i5 andarranging a tongue or projection 16 on the narrow lone gitudinal flangeof the cover adjacentto'tlie Vee inner side of `the'central part 0f thebeveled face'thereonand engaging thelsame -withv said recess, therebycausing thecover and,

body when assembled to'be securely and reliably lield'againstdisplacement relatively to each other both lengthwise and crossvvise andinsuring the proper operationcf the parts which are mounted: on the bodyand co-operate With'the cover. l The corresponding pair of transverseflanges at thesame'ends of Vthe bcdyIa-nd Vcover of the box in effectVforni a lieadfon thisendV of the enclosure and the opposing siiilaccsofthese flanges on the body and cover are provided with notches orrecesses l?, 1.8, which in the assembled pcsitionct Jthe coi-.fer andbody 'together foren an opeiiing ci' Vslot in ivhich the central part ofone of the terminals is arranged so thattlic inner end` of this terminalis, arrangedfivithl, inthe bciaiid ,the outer v`llend externallythereof. These terminalsinay be secured tothe body ofthe box iiranysuitable man- -iiei-,but as sho'i'vn" `-Figs. 2,3 and 4;, cachot theseterminals is preferably 'secured to `one of fthe. .transverse flanges"of uthe body bv vmeans of screivs` 2() "passing through' cned ings Ainthel central .part of term/mailand terminal While the threaded; sha-nhsVofthe vscrews yengage .with threaded sockets `or sleeves 19 which aremounted in the! respective transverse flange of theY body and 'the'adjacent part of the side `WallY thereof. Y

y 'Tliesethrea-ded sockets yare preferablv construct'ed:of metalandembedded inV thebodv casting' VJthe latter v laround thesesoclrets`during the manufacture Q the `shcvvn in Fig; thereby interlocking theVsockets circumferentially with the body.

ofthe body.v or" theV same. In order to prevent these sockets Vfromturning circumferentially, the peripheralV surfaces of the Vsaine aremade of Y irregular. form, 'for instance, hexagonal, as

of these Vsockets is alsoV provided: with, a recess'2l in its: peripherywhich preferably has the form of an annular-groove into -ivnicli theadjacent part ofthe molded body enters in'theforrn or" 'a"l-rey,`.thereby positiif'ely anchoring or" interlocliingV the socket withthe body and preventing the saine from being pulled ont ivhen the screwwhich enters the sanieis tightened for clamping the terminalV againstrthe respective Vend Various means may Y tacliably connecting `oppositeends of the cover' With thecorrespondingends of the body, but thoseivhich are shown. in the drawings have beenrfound satisfactory inpractice and are therefore preferred.l fisV there shown. catchisfinoiintedv on each end of the bodyV for detachablyV engaging with`the correspondingend ofV the cover. lla-cli oftheseYcatcliesfc'oinprises an" transverse plate 2L vhich engages ntheorrterbeemployedjlor deendsof. the z body and' cei'fery andweirtends.

across the joint betiveen'the saine and is provided with a slot` 24which receives the adjacent part of theresp'ective terminal', Va Ylocking lip 25. projecting inivaidly'f `from the :front end Vof thisplate and engaging `,with an outwardly-facingshoulder formed f on theouter side` of the'adjacent end of the covcri by producing a notch 27intlie lat- Y ter.' an inner Yplate 29 arranged between the inner Vsideof the rear part offsaidi outerV 'l plate and the adjacenttransverscflan'ge of tle body, this inner platel being connected .at

jits rcai end with the rear endof/tlie outer pla-te ivliile its-frontedge terminates inrear oi the slot 24 in tlielatter, and a longitudinalVatta ching flange QS-extending longitudinally inward .from the fronte;edge of the linner plate and secured ,between the rear side of vthecentral part vof thearljacent terminal and the front-sident the adjacenttransverse flange of the bodyl by meansfof the'screws 20 which passlthrough openingsO intliis 'flange'. Each ofthese catches is preferably.

constmirctedV integrallyof A'sheet metal although the same may beothervvi'seconstruct- Y. Y ed, if desired; One'. ofA the lips 25'` forVin- 'mfesllsi their Madsen-.hone Side of the* stance the one shown attheiipper VendV of Fig.. 1., forms a plain'hoolrlivhile `the otherVwhich. is shown at the lowerv end ofEig.-jl,

is/providedat its inner lorfree endwith a engaging the same from thecoverivhendis- :.fneinb.ering the parts- 'Vllhenr Vvasseinbling `thecoverandbody, one end of thecoveris lfirst engaged yvith the plain lip25 and theirV the opposite end of the cover is pressed against theinclined flange 31 of the other li) 25. whereby the latter will besnrunfrY l c e,

lips 25. whereby the parts of the catches are retained within thesurface dimensions of the body and cover, thereby avoiding anyprojection or obstruction on the exterior of the box or casing whichmight interfere with the proper manipulation of the fuse` and itsapplication to or kremoval from the fuse block or switch *board withwhich the same is intended to co-operate.

.Although the fuse link which may be employed in connection with thisfusegmay be of different forms, and still accomplish its purpose,l thesame is preferably constructed of a strip of fusible metalso aslto formtwo comparatively wide and'flat end tabs 33, A33, a central section 34of comparatively large area, `and two comparatively narrowv fila-- ments35 connecting opposite sidesof the central section with the end tabs, asshown in Fig. 5. By this me'anstwo blow-outfspots or fusing regions areformed on the fuse link by the filaments which renders the fuse moresensitive andV increases the protection for the apparatus' with whichthis fuse is associated. 'n

Thile a` variety of means `may be employed for connecting the oppositeends vof' the fuse link with the inner ends of the terminals, thosewhich are shown in the drawings are preferred and constructed asfollows:

36, 36 represent coupling Vpins projecting laterally from the inner endsof the terminals through openings 37 in the end tabs of the fuse link sothat the latterengages on one side with one side of the terminals. Eachend of the fuse link is firmly clamped against the respective terminalso as to hold the same reliably in engagement therewith and produce agood electric contact by means of a coupling clip which is ofsubstantially U- shaped form and provided with a front rigid jaw 38engaging with the front side of the fuse link, Va rear resilient jaw 39engaging with the rear side of the adjacent terminal, and a transverseweb l() connecting the outer ends of these jaws. The front jaw of thisVcoupling clip is preferably made flat so as to produce a contact oflarge area with the fuse link and the rear jaw is preferably constructedof S-shaped formr so that upon slipping this coupling clip over the fuselink and the respective terminal, a resilient wedging engagement of therear jaw will be exerted against the terminal which operates to hold thefuse link and terminal reliably in engagement over a wide area ofcontact and thus insure a good electrical connection between the same.In order to further increasefthe electrical contact between the fuselink and the clip, the end portions or tabs of the link are roughened,as shown at 4l, so that when the front dog or clip engages with thesame, minute furrows or grooves .are formed or cut in the link whichadditionally operate to'insure a perfectly clean contact between thesame. Then the coupling clips are applied to the vlink and terminals,the

webs of the clips are arranged so close to the adjacent wideVlongitudinal flange of the kcover that the latter forms'a stop andprevents the clips, in the assembled position of the parts, from movinglaterally out of engagement with the fuse link and terminals,

so that accidental disconnection of the fuse I link from the terminalsis rendered impossible. Longitudinal ydisplacement of the clips relativeto the fuse link and terminals may4 be prevented in numerous ways, 'forinstance, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, this is accomplished byproviding the front jaw of each clip with a slot 42 extending inwardlyfromits freeend and engaging this slot with the coupling pin 36 on aterminal, f but if desired, this slot in the front aw 43 of theclip maybe omitted, as shown in Figs.

6 and 7, in which case longitudinal displacement of the clip relative tothe terminal and fuse link may be prevented by en- 3 'gaging thisA clipwith the terminal and fuse link between the coupling pin 36 and theadjacent transverse flanges of thc body and cover of. the'box, as shownin Fig. 6.

In orderto render possible easy removal of theV clips from the link andterminals, either by means of the lingers or by means of a tool, a ribor shoulder lll is formed externally on each clip at the corner orjunction between the front jaw and the web, as shown in Figs. 1,4, 5, 6and 7.

When the cover of this box is removed, the internal parts of the fuseare fully exposed to view and amplel room is afforded for 'convenientlyand efficiently applying a fuselink to the terminals or replacing thesame by a new one when blown out. Furthermore, the enclosure which isthus produced for the fuse link and associated parts, is practicallyyair tight so that the same is unaffected by moisture and is also notliable to injure anything adjacent to the fuse link when it burns out,Moreover, the amount of metal which is exposed on the exterior of thebox is reduced to a minimum which is a great ad- 'l5 fend with thecorresponding end of the outer plate, andan inwardly projecting. flangefse-v cured to theV body, the outer ends of said body and cover beingrecessed to receive said vantage inasmuch asrit reduces to a mini- Vmumthe liability of injuring an operator by shocks when manipulating thefuse in quarters which are dark or poorly lighted# l claim as myinvention:

l. A fuse comprising a box and a cover,'terininals mounted at opposite:ends of the' box, and means or'detacliably connectingV opposite ends ofthe body and cover, comprising catches each of which has an outer platemountedV on the body and provided with a lipengaging` with the cover andwith a slot Which receives the adjacent terminal. Y l

2. A fuse comprising a boxhaving abody and cover,'terminals mounted atopposite ends ofthe box, Aandmeans for detachably Vconnecting oppositeends of the vbody and v cover, cdmprising cat-clics each' ,of which hasan outerplate .provided with anopening receiving the adjacent terminal,a lip` 'at the front end ot said outer plate engaging with Y said cover,an inner platel connected at its rear end with the corresponding endofthe.

catches. Y I

4:. 'A fusev comprising a box, terminals mounted on the boxand` providedwith pins,

aA fuse link having openings Wliicli'receiveV said pins, and meansforclamping-said link :upon said terminals comprisingJU-shaped couplingclips each ofyvhich forms twowjajvs having al body having a .laterallyprojecting rib. l

one of which engages with oneiend of said fuse'link andv the other `withonelof said terminals. i, j ,Y A fuse comprising a: box, terminalsVmounted oiiAt-hefbox and provided with pins,V Ya fuse link havingopeningswhich receive said pins,- andmeans for clamping said link uponsaid terminals, comprising lUlshaped coupling clips each of whichormstvvo'jaws one of which engages-With oneend of said fuse link and isprovided with a slotwhich receives the adjacent pin, and the otherengaging With oneY of said terminals.

(5.` A Vfuse comprisingia box, terminals mounted on: the box and'providedv Witli'pins, l

a fuse link having openings which receive said pins,Y :and means forlclamping said linkv upjon said terminals, comprising U-shaped couplingclips each of Which forms tivo jaiysl 'one of Vwhich engages witlione.end of said fuse link and the,` other with one of said terminalsand'fthe oiiiterfpart of said clip .7. iif'l'use comprising a fbox,terminals mounted on the boxvand provided*with pins, a fuse linkjhaving.openings which receive Said pins, and ineansfor clamping said link Y.upon' said terminals comprising U-shaped coupling clips each of. WhichYforms tvvoljaws eine oct Whicliis straight andy engages one end Y ofsaid link and the other being of S-shaped 'crm and engagesby a springaction'withrV one of said terminals. i j

j 8. Ak fuse comprising a, ilcox,y terminals mounted onf the boxand'providedV-With pins, a fusev link havingopenings .which receive uponsaid terminals comprising VU-shaped Ycoupling,clips each of whichformstvvoj aws onefof which engages Witlione end of said fuse link andthe other ivith one of said terminals and said clips beingconlnedwinfengagement with saidV link and terminals by the adjacentsurface parts of said box.

said pins, and means for clamping said link

